Schwabe is one of the top law firms serving the needs of businesses in the Pacific Northwest, providing a broad range of transactional and litigation services to the Northwest’s leading companies. We are looking for people who demonstrate aptitude, leadership, teamwork, and strong verbal and written communication skills to join the 2026 Summer Associate program in our Anchorage, Portland, or Seattle office.

We are looking for people who embrace an entrepreneurial spirit and take initiative. A strong desire to practice law in a regional setting is key. We are looking for our firm’s future leaders.

Summer Associates begin in early June and receive a weekly salary of at least $2,700. During the program, summer associates receive formal and informal evaluations of their work from a dedicated supervisor and a number of assigning attorneys. Summer associates can expect to work with associates and shareholders conducting research and drafting memoranda, pleadings, and legal updates for continuing education purposes.

Criteria:

• Applicants are required to be attending an ABA-accredited law school;
• A top 25% class ranking or equivalent GPA is preferred; and
• Moot court and/or law review experience is preferred.

Our application portal for 2L applications for the 2026 Summer Associate Program will open on May 1, 2025. Applications are considered on a rolling basis. The posting will close when positions have been filled or by 5:00pm Pacific Time on August 8, 2025, whichever comes first. We advise interested applicants to apply as early as possible.

Submissions must include the following items: 

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Complete undergraduate transcript (unofficial acceptable)
• Law school transcript (unofficial acceptable)
• References
• Writing sample (that has not been significantly edited by others) reflecting your legal analysis abilities (not to exceed seven pages)

Please direct your materials to Michelle Baird-Johnson, Senior Director of Talent Acquisition and Integration. All materials should be in PDF format.

Schwabe is committed to cultivating and celebrating diversity, equity, and inclusion because it makes our firm better. People from historically underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Schwabe is a premier Northwest regional law firm serving the needs of businesses in seven key industry sectors: Technology; Healthcare and Life Sciences; Consumer Products, Manufacturing and Retail; Natural Resources; Real Estate and Construction; Ports and Maritime; and Indian Country and Alaska Native Corporations. We have offices in four states, in the cities of Portland, Bend, Salem, Seattle, Vancouver, Anchorage, and Mountain View. Schwabe has a culture based on collaboration, innovation, and a drive to help our clients achieve success.

Schwabe currently has an opening for a full-time, licensed Biotechnology and/or Pharmaceutical Patent Attorney or Agent in our Intellectual Property department. This position will be based out of Bend, OR, Portland, OR, or Seattle, WA. The ideal candidate will have:

• 2+ years of experience in biotech patent prosecution
• Advanced degree in biology, biochemistry, immunology, or molecular and cellular biology
• Excellent writing, interpersonal and communication skills
• Excellent academic credentials and professional references
• Demonstrated ownership of projects and willingness to work in a team-oriented setting, but with significant independence
• Strong client service ethics
• USPTO registration required
• Oregon or Washington bar, or eligibility for reciprocity is required for attorneys

Candidates should submit PDFs of their cover letter, resume, law school transcripts, and a writing sample directed to Michelle Baird-Johnson, Senior Director of Talent Acquisition & Integration. Inquiries are maintained in confidence.

The pay range for this position is $140,000 - $200,000, depending on job skills and legal practice experience relevant to the position. The position is also eligible for productivity and discretionary merit bonus consideration at the end of each calendar year.

• A listing of benefits can be found here: https://www.schwabe.com/benefits-and-firm-paid-expenses. 
• In order to cultivate our collaborative culture and better serve our firm clients, most lawyer positions at Schwabe require in-person work in our offices on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, with flexibility on Mondays and Fridays to work offsite.
  

Schwabe is proud to be Mansfield Rule Plus Certified. This certification recognizes the structural changes and actions we have taken to diversify leadership in our firm. Learn more here: Mansfield Rule Plus Certification.

Schwabe is committed to cultivating and celebrating diversity, equity, and inclusion because it makes our firm better. People from historically underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Schwabe is a premier Northwest regional law firm serving the needs of businesses in seven key industry sectors: Technology; Healthcare and Life Sciences; Consumer Products, Manufacturing and Retail; Natural Resources; Real Estate and Construction; Ports and Maritime; and Indian Country and Alaska Native Corporations. We have offices in four states, in the cities of Portland, Bend, Salem, Seattle, Vancouver, Anchorage, and Mountain View. Schwabe has a culture based on collaboration, innovation, and a drive to help our clients achieve success.

Schwabe currently has an opening in its Seattle office for a full-time corporate attorney to work in a thriving, diverse practice. The ideal candidate will have: 

• Minimum of five years of corporate legal work experience
• Experience supporting entity formation (private companies, limited liability companies, limited partnerships and joint ventures), M&A, securities, debt and equity financing, due diligence, commercial contracts, private placements, commercial contracts, credit agreements, and other similar corporate tasks
• Effectively able to work on large M&A transactions as well as smaller transactions
• Ability to manage complex transactions, including client-ready documents, client exposure, and interacting across offices and practice groups
• Experience serving clients in at least one of our seven key industries, particularly within a law firm setting (preferred)
• Strong entrepreneurial, growth, and client service mindset
• Some portable book of business and demonstrated success in developing a client portfolio
• Washington State Bar admission or eligibility for reciprocity required
  

Candidates should submit PDFs of their cover letter, resume, law school transcripts, and a writing sample directed to Michelle Baird-Johnson, Schwabe’s Senior Director of Talent Acquisition & Integration. Inquiries are maintained in confidence.

The base pay range for this position is $185,000-$225,000, depending on job skills and legal practice experience relevant to the position. Higher base compensation may be available for candidates depending on their portable book of business. The position is also eligible for productivity and discretionary merit bonus consideration at the end of each calendar year. A listing of benefits can be found here: https://www.schwabe.com/benefits-and-firm-paid-expenses. 

In order to cultivate our collaborative culture and better serve our firm clients, most lawyer positions at Schwabe require in-person work in our offices on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, with flexibility on Mondays and Fridays to work offsite.

Schwabe is proud to be Mansfield Rule Plus Certified. This certification recognizes the structural changes and actions we have taken to diversify leadership in our firm. Learn more here: Mansfield Rule Plus Certification.